Folding-table construction



Sept. 3, 1929. R. s. CORLETT FOLDING TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. '10, 1924 Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES ROBERT S. CORLETT, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING-TABLE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed October 10, 1924. Serial No. 742,745.

My invention relates to a folding table construction, and more particularly to a foldable ironing board.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved folding table construction which will occupy a minimum of wall space when in folded position.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved folding table construction in which the table, when in folded position, will lie in a vertical plane perpendicular to the wall.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction in which the act of lifting up the table will cause it to swing into a vertical plane.

A further object is to provide an improved folding table construction which will withstand the severe strain to which such a table is subjected, and which will beeasy to operate.

Further objects will appear from the description and claims.

In the drawings in which my inventionis illustrated Figure 1 is a side view showing the table in full lines in position for use, and in dotted lines showing the table being folded;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the table folded into a narrow recess;

Fig. 3 is a detail View of the swinging bearing bracket and associated parts;

Fig. i is a section on the'line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a rear View ofthe bracket and supporting shaft.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the ironing board 10 is firmly secured to a rock shaft 11 mounted in a bearing bracket 12, which bearing bracket in turn is mounted to swing about a horizontal axis on a stud shaft 13. This stud shaft may be mounted on a bracket 1 1 which may be secured to a suitable support 15 atthe side of the narrow recess 16 into which the table may fold.

In order to cause the table to swing automatically into a Vertical plane as the outer end. of the table is lifted up, a'rock arm 17 (see Fig. 4c) is secured to the inner end of the shaft 11 to rock therewith, which rock arm carries a roller follower 18 which engages a fixed abutment member 19, which may be formed as an integral part of the supporting bracket 14. This abutment member may carry an extension or track 20, if desired, so that it will engage the roller during the entire swinging movement of the bracket thereby holding the ironing board in a vertical plane as it is swung into vertical position into the narrow recess.

In order to hold the roller 18 over against the extension or track 20, a backing member 21 is provided which may be formed integral with the supporting bracket Hand which engages a boss 22 on the swinging bracket 12 throughout a considerable portion of its swinging movement.

In operation, if the ironing board is extended in position for use, as is shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and it is desired to move it into folded position, the operator simply lifts up on the outer end of the table, continuing the lifting movement until the table is in folded position. During the first part of this movement the roller 18 will engage the fixed abutment 19 and cause the shaft 11 to swing the ironing board 10 into a vertical plane as shown at B in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This swings the ironing board into position to enter the narrow recess 16 provided for it. Further lifting movement simply swings the ironing board in a vertical plane into the narrow wall recess provided for it. In this movement the boss 22 slides on the backing member 21 which holds the bracket 12 over toward the track 20 to cause the roller 18 to properly engage the track.

This wall recess may be a narrow upright compartment formed as a part of the cabinet which may be built into the kitchen, or the board might simply swing alongside the end of the cabinet. One of the principal features of my improved ironing board is that, in folded position, it occupies'very little wall space.

In order to support the table in horizontal position a boss 23 may be provided adjacent the swinging edge of the ironing board which will rest on a wear resisting metal button 24 secured to the shelf 25 in front of the recess 16. If desired or necessary a further support may be provided by means of an adjustable screw 26 which also rests on a wear resisting button on the shelf 25 when the table is in position for use. The boss 28 may be formed integral with the arm 27 by which the ironing board is secured to the shaft 11. The screw 26 may be threaded into this arm 27, and adjustable to secure just the proper bearing on the wear resisting button on which it rests.

As shown in Fig. 5, when the table is in position of use, the inner end of the shaft 11 swings up underneath the bracket 14: and engages between a lug 28 thereon and an adjustable screw 29 threaded therein. By adjusting the screw 29, the proper relation can be secured between the upward pressure of the shaft 11 against the parts 28 and 29 and the downward pressure of the parts 23 and 26 on the buttons 24. If too much of the pressure is being carried by the buttons 24:, the screw 29 can be threaded inwardly to cause more of the pressure to be carried by the parts 28 and 29 and vice versa.

I claim:

1. A folding table construction to be folded into a wall recess, comprising a bearing bracket rockably mounted to swing back and forth on a horizontal pivot, a shaft rockable in said bearing bracket, a table secured to said shaft and rockable with said shaft from a position in which it lies in a horizontal plane outside said recess to a position in which it lies substantially in a vertical plane inside said recess, said shaft, table, and bearing bracket being rockable together about the pivot of the bearing shaft to swing the table in a vertical plane into said recess, a rock arm secured to said shaft, a follower carried by said rock arm and a stationary abutment member engaged by said follower to automatically rotate the shaft in its bearing to swing the table into a vertical plane as the bearing bracket is rocked on its pivot to move the table toward the recess, said abutment member being provided with an extension to hold the table in a vertical plane, and a supporting member engaged by said bearing bracket for holding said follower against said extension as the bearing bracket is swung on its pivot, a shelf in front of said recess, and interengaging means on said shelf and table at one side of said shaft for supporting said table in horizontal position.

2. A folding table construction comprising a bearing bracketv rockably mounted to swing back and forth on a horizontal pivot, a shaft rockable in said bearing bracket, an elongated table secured to said shaft and rockable with said shaft from a position in which it lies in 'a horizontal plane to a position in which it lies substantially in a vertical plane, said shaft, table and bearing bracket being rockable together about said pivot to swing the table into vertical position, a rock arm secured to said shaft, a follower carried by said rock arm, and a stationary abutment member engaged by said follower to automatically rotate the shaft in its bearing to swing the table into a vertical plane as the bearing bracket is rocked on its pivot to move the table to a vertical position, said abutment member being provided with an extension to hold the table in a vertical plane, and a supporting member engaged by said bearing bracket for holding said follower against said extension as the bearing bracket is swung on its pivot.

3. A folding table construction comprising a bearing bracket rockably mounted to swing back and forth on a horizontal pivot, a shaft rockable in said bearing bracket, an elongated table secured to said shaft and rockable with said shaft from a position in which it lies in a horizontal plane to a position in which it lies substantially in a vertical plane, said shaft, table, and bearing bracket being rockable together about said pivot to swing the table into vertical position, a rock arm secured to said shaft, a follower carried by said rock arm, and a stationary abutment member engaged by said follower to automatically rotate the shaft in its bearing, to swing the table into a vertical plane as the bearing bracket is rocked on its pivot to move the table to a vertical position, said abutment member being provided with an extension to hold the table in a vertical plane.

4. A folding table construction comprising a bearing bracket rockably mounted to swing back and forth on a horizontal pivot, a shaft rockable in said bearing bracket, an elongated table secured to said shaft and rockable with said shaft from a position in which it? lies in a horizontal plane to a position in which it lies substantially in a vertical plane, said shaft, table, and bearing bracket being rockable together about said pivot to swing the table into vertical position, a rock arm secured. to said shaft, a follower carried by said rock arm, and a stationary abutment member engaged by said follower to automatically a rotate the shaft in its bearing to swing the table into a vertical plane as the bearing bracket is rocked on its pivot to move the table to a vertical position.

5. A folding table construction comprising a bearing bracket rockably mounted to swing back and forth on a horizontal pivot, a shaft rockable in said bearing bracket, an elongated table secured to said shaft and rockable with said shaft from a position in which it lies in a horizontal plane to a position in which it lies substantially in a vertical plane, said shaft, table, and bearing bracket being rockable together about said pivot to swing the table into vertical position.

. 6 A folding table construction to be folded into a wall recess comprising an elongated table, a swivel mounting for said table, the axis of which swivel always extends longitudinally of the table, and a second swivel mounting for said swivel mounting, the axis of which extends substantially horizontally and transversely with respect to the axis of said first swivel mounting whereby the table may first be swung about the axis of said first swivel mounting until it lies substantially in a vertical plane, and may then be swung about the axis of said second swivel mounting into the wall recess with the table extending in a vertical direction and lying substantially in 1 a plane perpendicular to the plane of the wall.

In witness whereof, I have'hereunto subscribed my name.

ROBERT S. CORLETT. 

